Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 264. The Day of the Decisive Battle (2)

I slowly began to retrace the sequence of events that had led to this situation.

**Beginning (起)**.

A few days ago.

Jung Siwoo and Lee Doha had left for an overseas location to shoot a unit photo shoot, while Joo Eunchan and Dan Haru had headed to the countryside for filming.

**Development (承)**.

As predicted by the weather forecast—so accurate that it had earned the nickname ‘CSAT Cold Wave’—the third week of November arrived with a fierce cold front, accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds.

**Turning Point (轉)**.

Originally, the members, staff, and managers who were supposed to arrive in Seoul today—specifically, the day before the CSAT—were all stranded. To make matters worse, both Utopia and Enderway were fully booked with schedules leading up to the year-end, leaving the company with no available personnel.

**Conclusion (結)**.

“We’re screwed.”

Is this seriously happening—a never-ending stream of content?

Is Kang Hajin’s “world of unjust persecution” not over yet?

Clutching my head as if to tear my hair out, I held onto my phone like a lifeline.

“So, when are you coming? No, can you even make it? We have a music show tomorrow!”

“I managed to get the earliest flight possible, and if my calculations are correct, I should arrive just before the live broadcast. Eunchan’s group plans to depart as soon as the weather clears up at dawn, so they’ll probably arrive in the afternoon. You only need to handle the morning—just the CSAT for the seniors and your music show appearance.”

That sounded easier said than done.

I was baffled by how nonchalantly Ji Suho talked, as if asking me to pick up groceries in the morning. But I couldn’t complain to someone who couldn’t make it, so I quickly accepted the situation and raised my head.

“Alright, fine. Whatever. I have a license, so I can just drive myself there.”

“…Are you sure you drove in your past life? If you think you might cause an accident, it’s better to take a taxi….”

“Do you know what the first thing a male assistant director does when he joins a production company for the first time? Memorizing the CEO’s car number. Because he has to move it and park it.”

“Ha, this is unsettling…. Anyway, I’m really counting on you. I’m sorry about this.”

“It’s fine. Just tell me which car to use tomorrow.”

“Okay, hold on a moment.”

I could hear Ji Suho asking someone something on the other end of the line.

Noticing my tense conversation, Seo Taehyun, who had just finished getting ready for bed, walked out while drying his hair with a towel and mouthed, “What’s going on?”

I waved my hand dismissively to signal not to worry, and then Ji Suho’s slightly hesitant voice came back on the line.

“Um, Hajin.”

“Yes. What’s up? Do I need to go to the company to pick up the car?”

“No, it’s not that….”

“……?”

“We don’t have a car.”

“……What did you say?”

“The plan was for you guys to use the car that was supposed to bring Eunchan and Haru tomorrow, but they couldn’t depart…. This is driving me crazy. What should we do? A taxi… wouldn’t work, right?”

Where is this chaotic, slapstick sitcom universe headed?

The stormy weather outside, with thunder and lightning, perfectly matched my current state of mind.

* * *

In the end, I made a decision.

“Ha, Hajin?”

“…I’ll take care of it somehow tomorrow. Just make sure you pick up Siwoo hyung and Doha on time and bring them to the broadcasting station.”

“Are you sure? What are you planning to do?”

Sensing the slight unease in Ji Suho’s voice after I confidently said I’d handle it, I answered sarcastically.

“It’s not like there’s anything you can do from over there, is there? And international calls are expensive, so just hang up, and I’ll figure something out. Whether I take a taxi or the subway.”

“Hey, you do realize you’re a pretty popular idol right now, don’t you? Taking the subway with your bare face would be a disaster.”

“And you think taking a taxi won’t cause a scene? With all the sasaengs lately, if word gets out that the company sent the kids to their schedules in a taxi, it’ll cause a huge uproar. Trust me to handle this.”

“Well…. I really am sorry. None of us imagined it would turn out like this.”

“Who could you blame? It’s just because the weather’s terrible. Just be careful coming back.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow. Tell Taehyun and Yugeon to have a good trip.”

“Got it.”

After a quick farewell, I ended the call. My phone was flooded with missed messages. Clicking on one from Jung Siwoo, I found a long recipe for a lunchbox.

<**Miro_Kairos_Jung Siwoo hyung** ‖ It’s the recipe for the kids’ lunch.>

<**Miro_Kairos_Jung Siwoo hyung** ‖ I reserved the ingredients online earlier today. Did they arrive?>

So, those ingredients that arrived this afternoon were all for this.

Skimming through the endless list of recipes—from beef bulgogi to beef radish soup, soy sauce braised beef, stir-fried anchovies, meatballs, and all sorts of vegetable dishes—I clicked my tongue and replied.

<**Miro_Kairos_Jung Siwoo hyung** ‖ Then who will?>

After sending the message, I was about to move on to the next step when Seo Taehyun, who had finished drying his hair, came and sat next to me, applying a face mask.

“Are they really not coming? Seriously?”

“Yeah, so you should get to bed soon, since you’re the one taking the CSAT.”

“I’m fine. I can just go to the porridge shop and take it to go. I’ll just take a taxi in the morning. But what about Yugeon? He’s at home right now. Does he know?”

“Considering the youngest members are texting the hyungs saying they miss them every second, I’m sure he knows. I’ll make sure to prepare your lunchboxes and get you to the test on time, so don’t worry and just sleep, okay?”

“But you have a schedule tomorrow too. What are you going to do?”

“Hey.”

I stopped searching for someone’s number to call and stared directly at Seo Taehyun, who was crouched and looking anxious. I firmly responded.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“…….”

“Didn’t you say your mom and uncle couldn’t come up tomorrow? Are you going to mess up the CSAT that you worked so hard to prepare for, just because you couldn’t manage your condition and emotions?”

“…Why do you have to say it like that?”

“…That was 49% of T-Hajin talking.”

“…….”

“The remaining 51% of me is saying this because I don’t want you to be stressed out by other things on the day of your big exam. There are people who will help, so stop worrying and go to sleep. Double-check that you have all your supplies.”

“…….”

“See? That was F-Hajin talking. I was super kind, wasn’t I? Now go on, hurry up.”

Waving my hand dismissively, Seo Taehyun mumbled under his breath, but he eventually returned to his room.

So, I finally started to come up with a real plan when this time, a call came in from Yugeon.

These darned seniors.

“Hello? Hyung, I heard the managers are all stuck. What do we do tomorrow—”

“I’ll take care of the lunchbox, and I’ll drive over and pick you up at the set time, so please, please, please! Just go to sleep, you exam-takers!”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m perfectly sane. So just go to bed. See you tomorrow. Love you. Bye.”

“What? You’re cra—”

Click.

I hung up the phone in a hurry and immediately dialed someone who could help me out of this situation. It was almost 11 p.m., so I had to call before they went to bed.

Fortunately, after a few rings, a familiar and comforting voice answered.

“Yes, son? What’s up?”

“Mom!”

In times of crisis, nothing beats the ‘mom card.’

“Mom, please help me. Save me. Help me!”

“Why are you calling so late all of a sudden? What’s going on?”

I quickly explained the situation to my bewildered mom, who was shocked by the sudden call. I whined about how I was so busy picking up the kids, going to work, and covering for the MC—all while still managing to stay alive. After grasping the situation, my mom gave me a quick answer.

“So all I need to do is bring the car and pack a lunchbox tomorrow?”

“Yes. I thought about handling the lunchbox myself, but if they get sick from what I make, I won’t be able to face them for the rest of my contract, Mom.”

“Hmm…. Okay, I get it. I’ll be at your dorm early in the morning, so send me the door code.”

“Yes! Mom,

I love you!”

“With both my sons not taking the CSAT, I thought I’d never get to experience being a parent on CSAT day in this lifetime, but now it seems like I’ve gained six more sons in my later years.”

There was a subtle excitement in my mom’s voice.

I knew it.

She wanted to play the role of the parent who packs a lunchbox on CSAT day.

‘But Mom, you’ve already done that…. In the past timeline…. Twice….’

I thought of the first timeline when I retook the CSAT, and the first regression when I took the CSAT as a regular student, and smiled bitterly. After getting my mom’s promise to arrive on time tomorrow, I quickly made another urgent phone call.

“…Hello?”

The voice on the other end was both familiar and unfamiliar, making me feel a little nervous.

But that was just for a moment. With the schedule chaos looming, I threw caution to the wind and boldly introduced myself.

“Hello, CEO. This is Kang Hajin from Kairos. I’m really sorry to bother you so late at night, but there’s something I urgently need to ask of you.”

The situation was already out of control, so I might as well go all out.

In this world where everything seemed stacked against me, I was determined to win.

* * *

The next morning.

My mom arrived at the dorm at dawn, as promised.

I was slightly worried that she hadn’t slept because of me, but seeing how she was full of life, asking questions while exploring the dorm, it seemed she was enjoying the situation.

“Are you eating well? I heard that Yugeon and Siwoo are pretty good at cooking.”

“Yeah, but we’re always either at the company or busy with schedules, so we don’t have much time to eat properly at home.”

“You still need to eat well. Haru and Eunchan are so skinny.”

“…They’re actually the ones who eat the most. Really, the most. Seriously.”

“Really? Well, boys always eat like that when they’re growing.”

After finishing her tour of the dorm, my mom naturally put on an apron and started taking out the ingredients that Jung Siwoo had ordered from the fridge. She also laid out the supplies she had brought from home.

“What? Did you make something? Yesterday? That late at night?”

“I didn’t make anything. I just brought a few things from home. You’re not busy, right? Come help me.”

“I’m great at assisting, but Mom, wait a sec.”

As my mom was about to start preparing the lunchboxes in earnest, I quickly set up a GoPro on a mini tripod in the corner of the kitchen to film a vlog. I couldn’t just let such fun content go to waste.

After a brief opening comment to the camera, I started helping my mom prepare the lunchboxes. At that moment, Seo Taehyun, still groggy, stumbled out of his room with messy hair. When he saw my mom in the kitchen, he blinked in confusion.

“…Auntie?”

“Taehyun, you’re up? Go wash up quickly and have some breakfast before you go.”

“Why are you here, Auntie? How did you…?”

“Yep. She’s my mom, I called her yesterday, she’s making your lunch today, and we’re filming a vlog right now. Say cheese, Taehyun!”

“Ugh. Ah, don’t film me!”

When I turned the GoPro to capture Seo Taehyun, he quickly covered his face and ran into the bathroom, having realized what was going on.

Thinking about how fans would go crazy over seeing Seo Taehyun’s sleepy, bare face—something rarely shown to them—I hurriedly continued helping my mom with the lunch preparation.

“But what about after you leave for the broadcast station? What about Taehyun and Yugeon? Should I just drive them today?”

“No, no. Even though your driving skills are better than most roadies, this is enough for today. I’ve already taken care of everything.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. After you finish the lunchboxes, you should head straight home.”

“No, since I’m in Seoul, I should go visit your grandmother. The car keys are over there, so take them.”

“Take a taxi. I’ve got the company card. The director said I could use it.”

“No way. A taxi? You be careful driving in Seoul. Are you sure you can handle it? Driving in Seoul isn’t easy, especially with such a small car.”

“Well, a car is a car, and driving in Seoul is just….”

As I shrugged my shoulders and popped a piece of my mom’s egg roll into my mouth, I suddenly realized I had forgotten something very important.

Caught off guard by the sudden thought, I gulped down the half-chewed egg roll and asked my mom.

“…Mom.”

“Yes?”

“What kind of car do we have again? The model?”

My mom looked at me like I was asking the most ridiculous question and answered.

“It’s a Morning. We’ve had the white Morning for 10 years now. Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

The car….

We still hadn’t replaced it, had we?

The thought of Seo Taehyun and Yugeon arriving in front of a sea of reporters in a tiny, old white Morning made my head start to throb intensely.